A Vixen in Venice by Kate DeveauxReleased: May 8, 2015Genre: EroticaPublisher: Totally Bound

Reviewed by Sarah

On the Flap

He’s an art thief on the run—with her heart.

Look closer, into Totally Five Star Venice, where art curator Monique LeBres has just walked through the doors of the newly opened, swanky luxury hotel to assist with their art collection. Alessandro Bonnard, the world-renowned art connoisseur and collector, has been sent incognito to supervise Monique and oversee her acquisitions for the hotel.

Concealing his true identity, Alessandro is intrigued by the art-loving vixen with an appetite for kinky sex. He pursues Monique, charming her at every turn, taking her to places she’s never been—both in and out of the bedroom.

Monique falls hard for the man who has utterly captured her heart, only to find out he isn’t who she thought he was.

Reader Advisory: This book contains scenes of anal sex, public sex, voyeurism and soft BDSM.

Review

This is part of the Totally 5 Star series but is enjoyable as a standalone book.

Ready to fully leave behind her less than stellar upbringing in Kansas and make a name for herself in the art world, Monique Les Bres spends the last of her money to attempt to get a job at the Totally 5 Star hotel. Fortunately with an expended savings account, she lands the job as the art curator.

James Conroy, the owner of the hotel, calls in a favor to his friend Alessandro to oversee the novice curator and her choices since he’s a world renowned art collector. Alessandro who prefers to stay private due to his questionable practices of selling art decides to go undercover as Luc to maintain his anonymity.

I have mixed feelings about this one. The story is interesting but seemingly with holes; this could be because I haven’t read any of the other books in the series. I think there are some issues/confusion with the characters we do have. I don’t understand why someone would hire a rookie like Monique with such a large budget but then she seems to know her art history. She also is a bit irresolute in how she displays a professional demeanor one minute and then does the exact opposite in the next scene. Then there is further perplexity with Luc. Everything leads you to believe his an art thief but then it says he doesn’t steal art he just unfairly increases the selling price at auction; so while morally questionable he doesn’t appear to truly be a thief. The secondary characters are just as perplexing but in the end materialize more as a way to move the plot.

Now that I’ve put out what I found less than ideal, here’s what I did enjoy about the book: the sex. The sex is hot. In fact it’s one of the few times where I just want more of it. The sex is kinky. Luc is dominant in all the right ways, somewhat arrogant but with the goods to back it up. Monique shines as flirty, sensual, and a bit of a bombshell.

Overall I’d say I found the story to be okay but the sex to be amazing. I still continue to look forward to Deveaux’s future stories which will undoubtedly be just as steamy. Rating: 3.5 StarsAmazon | B&N | Goodreads | Author

I have a large appetite for books with pensive alpha males. I tend to lean towards erotica and contemporary romance. I am completely addicted to my Kindle and feel naked when it’s not with me. If you have any recommendations, feel free to email them. I’m a single-ish woman with two crazy dogs. I also love football and basketball. Living in Oklahoma City, my teams are the Thunder and Sooners.